A preview of two characters from the upcoming Talisman expansion, The Dragon
originally published 29 July 2011
The heart and soul of Talisman lies in exploration. Players immerse themselves in the fantastical adventures of the characters they control as those characters wander the realm and brave its dangers. Ultimately, their journeys lead them toward their demise, or to the Crown of Command.
With the upcoming addition of The Dragon expansion, Talisman will find and foster a host of new stories. You will have the opportunity to learn about each of three new Draconic Lords and their personalized bids for the Crown of Command. The game will advance toward the new Inner Region and the ultimate encounter with the Dragon King.
To deal with the growing draconic threat and make your way to the Dragon King’s tower, you can assume the role of any of six new characters. While each of these characters offers unique advantages, they also flavor the game experience with their different personalities. Two of the upcoming characters feature drastically different approaches to their exploration of the world of Talisman .
Dragon Hunter
Talisman can claim its share of heroes and villains. It can also claim its share of individuals concerned neither with good nor evil. While a selfish mercenary like the Dragon Hunter may have crass motives, if he pursues the destruction of evil, he may still do much good.
A fierce fortune-seeker, the Dragon Hunter has perfected the dangerous art of tracking and slaying dragons to claim their hoards and collect rewards from terrified villagers.
Concerned primarily with his own fame and wealth, the Dragon Hunter starts play with an Axe from the purchase deck, giving him an immediate edge as he seeks dragons to slay.
He is very good at hunting dragons, too! His ability to move to the closest Dragon in his region means the Dragon Hunter should be able to keep himself quite busy in The Dragon.
While he may exploit frightened villagers, the Dragon Hunter still does much good. His ability to roll two dice for a deathblow makes him one of the deadliest combatants in battle.
However, the Dragon Hunter’s greed and arrogance may get the better of him as there’s always a chance he might roll doubles and be defeated. In fact, sometimes the Dragon Hunter may choose to avoid the deathblow altogether when there’s no immediate benefit to showing off his prowess.
Dragon Priestess
Not all those who wander the realm fear the rise of a new Dragon King. Indeed, the Dragon Priestess draws strength from his influence as she offers his cultists her guidance and leadership.
A domineering and power-hungry matriarch of the Dragon Cults, the Dragon Priestess can perform ancient rituals and sacrifices to gain boons from the dragons she worships.
Some villagers may feel ignored by the other characters confronting the draconic threat. Giving into their fear of the Dragon King and his followers, they offer him their fealty. The Dragon Priestess can gather these budding cultists, as well as those who have long dedicated themselves to their draconic masters.
It is always helpful to have followers when you pray, but the Dragon Priestess can take advantage of hers during her own nefarious rituals. When she encounters a Dragon, she can sacrifice her followers instead of engaging it in combat. The sacrifice allows her to pray for the dragon’s favor, and she may sacrifice additional followers for greater chances at the dragon’s blessings. In this way, she may quickly gain Strength and Craft, or even a Talisman and extra lives.
Be careful of calling upon the Dragons favor too often, though, especially if you have no sacrifice to offer them. The Dragon Priestess always stands the risk of losing lives or followers, or even of being enslaved.
Different characters, different paths
The many diverse characters available to Talisman players follow different paths through the realm. The Dragon Hunter and Dragon Priestess are just two of the six new characters available in The Dragon expansion. Share your thoughts about them with other members of our community forum , and keep an eye on our website for future previews.